Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport named the busiest in the world (and here’s how to navigate it)

The world’s busiest airports have been named — and it’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International that’s No.1 for the fifth year in a row.

The latest ranking is courtesy of Airports Council International (ACI) World, an industry federation representing more than 2,200 airports in 181 countries, based on analysis of 2025 data.

It found that last year, 106.3 million passengers passed through the Georgia hub, with 95.2 million processed at Dubai International Airport, which comes second for the third consecutive year. Tokyo Haneda Airport moves up one place to third (91.7 million), with the top five rounded out by Dallas/Fort Worth (No.4/85.7 million) and Shanghai, China (No.5/85 million).

The rest of the top 10 comprises Chicago (No.6/84.8 million); London Heathrow (No.7/84.5 million); Istanbul, Turkey (No.8/84.4 million); Guangzhou, China (No.9/83.6 million); and Denver (No.10/82.4 million).

The Atlanta airport’s streak has been running for 27 years, with the hub’s position at the top of the ranking since 1997 broken only in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, other airports are catching up. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta’s 2025 passenger numbers are down 1.6 percent compared to 2024, while Dubai’s are up 3.1 percent and Tokyo Haneda’s have soared by 6.7 percent.

In the U.S., Chicago O’Hare is also on the rise, with passenger numbers up six percent and the airport ranking first globally for aircraft movements (860,000 take-offs and landings).

ACI said that in 2025, global total passengers are estimated to have reached 9.8 billion, representing an increase of 3.6 percent from 2024.

The top 10 busiest airports for total passenger traffic represent nine percent of global passenger traffic.

Busier traffic doesn’t mean passengers need to have a more stressful time, however. Here’s some advice if you are traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.

The Atlanta airport is “like Grand Central on steroids”, according to Georgia Fowkes, a travel advisor for Altezza Travel.

“You feel it’s the busiest airport in the world the second you land,” she continues. “Everything is moving, people are rushing, and you’re just dropped in the epicenter.”

“Delta runs the show here and something like 80 percent of passengers are connecting through (Atlanta), which makes it a constant stream of movement,” she added.

With this in mind, it’s best to arrive in good time.

Scarlett Martin, Assistant Manager of Flight Centre UK’s Horsham Store, tells The Independent: “Security lines at (Atlanta) can take a while, so I’d always err on the side of caution and arrive three hours before your flight.”

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta is laid out in a fishbone shape with two terminals as the head and tail, a domestic terminal and the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, seven concourses denoted by the letters A, B, C, D, E, F and T; and 193 gates.

International flights are served by concourses E, F and, to a lesser extent, T.

Fowkes, from Pittsburgh, notes that “navigation is straightforward, with the terminals all lined up,” and adds that the Plane Train “connects them fast.” But she warns that it’s “always packed.”

“I’ve got a love-hate thing with it,” she tells The Independent. “I only use it if I have a heavy bag or I’m late.”

“Otherwise, I walk the tunnels. They’re quiet, with soft lights and art installations. Honestly, it feels like airport therapy. It might seem like a hassle, but after 14 hours of travel, the quiet and motion are exactly what I need.”

Martin says that travelers might find Concourse T, which is closest to the main entrance, too crowded. Instead, she suggests heading to Concourse D and the brand-new soccer-pitch-sized Delta Sky Club (if you have eligibility).

She reveals: “This spacious lounge offers seating for over 500 guests, with panoramic airfield views. The buffet-style food is excellent, offering both hot and cold options and clearly labelled allergens — something I took great comfort in as I suffer from a peanut allergy.”

“The coffee from the machine is surprisingly good too — not like the typical sludge-like liquid that you can expect from airports,” she added.

For Claire Baker, Head of Customer Experience at luxury travel concierge company Winged Boots, it’s Concourse B that offers the best spot to relax.

Read more: Next-gen Delta One suite unveiled as part of $1B cabin upgrade that includes extra inch of legroom in economy

She says: “I always recommend booking a private pod at Minute Suites in Concourse B. It’s perfect for a pre-flight nap or a quiet space to work or relax.”

Fowkes’ go-to quiet zone is near Atlanta Chophouse in the food court before Concourse A. She reveals: “There are wall-side tables and outlets. When I’ve got work calls, I go there.”

Air traffic patterns for 2026, and therefore the next airport traffic rankings, remain unpredictable because of the ripple effect on fuel supplies and costs from the Iran war.

Some airlines, for example, have warned that they’ll be forced to furlough staff and axe flights.

Lufthansa said it may have to ground planes as Virgin Atlantic flagged a looming supply crunch and Qantas Airways warned of spiralling costs.

The world’s busiest airports